I am setting up this fundraiser on behalf of my best friend Ana and her family, who are in need of our support now more than ever as her father was unfairly separated from his family earlier this week. Please take a few moments to read through this message from the family.

Our family is humbly searching for our community’s support as we face one of the toughest challenges of our lives.

Early on Monday morning, October 20th, masked agents scared, harassed, and ultimately kidnapped our father, Ramiro “Ramirito” Padron Contreras, outside of Home Depot in Signal Hill, California. We are now faced with the harsh reality that although our father was illegally taken from us without a warrant, there is no easy or cheap way to get him back home where he belongs, surrounded by the family he cultivated over 36 years.

Our father has been a loving, hardworking, and devoted father to all 6 of his children and a playful, involved grandfather to all 5 of his grandchildren (ranging in ages 3-23). Ramiro has never committed a crime, and now his family can only see him behind glass. He’s never been charged, but his wife still has to sleep alone while he sleeps on the floor with only plastic for a blanket. Ramiro is no criminal; he is being punished for not successfully jumping through the hoops of a system that is designed to have hardworking people like Ramiro fail or give up hope. We will accept neither.

Ramiro has been a resident of Long Beach, California, for over 36 years. In those over three decades, he not only went out of his way to help dozens of members of his community, he raised a family of people who grew up and followed his example. Our father taught us to help others when we could and sometimes even when we couldn’t.

Please help spread this post if you cannot donate. Any funds we raise will be used to help us pay for approximately $16,000 in legal fees. Please keep our family in your prayers. We would like to take this time to thank you all in advance as we know every share or donation gets our children closer to their “Tata” and our mother closer to seeing her “Gordito”.